Mail box



H. H. SCHNEIDER MAIL 50x Filed March 23, 1926 CHM/Meg:-

Patented 0st. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES HENRY H. SCHNEIDER, OF HUNTER, KANSAS.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed March 23, 1926. Serial No. 96,796.

position in proximity to the postmans ve-.

hicle for the convenience of the postman, and one wherein the closure will be automatioally opened with such movement of the mail box.

l Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mail box constructed in accordance with the invention, the same being shown in its normal position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away, of the mail box showing the same as in a position wherein'the closure is partially opened.

Figure 3 is a view illustrating the latch mechanism for holding the mail box in its normal position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the base or support for the mail box, and which is secured in a suitable manner on a supporting post not shown.

Front and rear legs 6 have their lower ends pivotally connected to the member 5 and have their upper ends pivotally con nected to the bottom 7 of the mail box proper, the upper ends of the leg members 6 being shown as disposed in suitable openings formed in the bottom 7 and held therein by means of the pins 8.

The body of the mail box which is indicated at 9 may be of any desired construction, however the construction as shown embodies a length of sheet metal bent intermediate its ends as shown by Figure 1, the edges thereof being secured to the bottom 7 by means of the pins 8. I

The front of the mail box is partially closed by the wall 10, there being provided a hinged closure 11 for closing the lower portion of the front of the box.

As illustrated by Figure 2, one of the front legs 6 is formed with a right angled portion 12 that has pivotal connection with the link 13 at 14, the link having pivotal connection with the closure 11 at 15, with the result that as the mail box is moved forwardly, in a manner as shown, the closure 11 will automatically move to its open position.

Slidably mounted under the mail box or body portion is a bar 16 that is formed with an eye 17 at its forward end .to accommodate the finger of the operator, whereupon the bar may be moved forwardly.

The rear end of the bar 16 connects with the latch member 18, at 19 the latch member being pivotally supported under the bottom 7 of the mail box by means of the pivot pin 20. Cooperating with the latch member 18 is a vertical bar 21 that lies in the path of travel of the mail box. when it is moved to its normal. position. Coiled spring 22 engages the latch member 18 and acts to normally urge the same inwardly to the end that as the latch member moves rearwardly to engage the member 21, the spring 22 will act to draw the latch member to its locking position.

Mounted on the upper surface of the platform 5 is a stop 23 which is provided with a cushioning element 24; on its upper end, to cushion the downward movement of the mail box to prevent the same from being broken should the mail box be thrown downwardly too suddenly.

In order that the mail box will return to its normal position after it has been released by the operator, a coiled spring 25 is provided and has its upper end connected to the bottom of the mail box proper, as at 26, the opposite end thereof passing over the hook 27 that is secured to the platform 5.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that due to the construction shown and described, the postman may by operating the member 16 swing the mail box, to a position to con-- l veniently place mail therein. Simultaneously with the forward movement of the mail box it will be obvious that the closure 11 Will swing open to permit the mail to be positioned Within the box.

A suitable flag indicated at 28 is mounted on the upper portion of the mail box and may be moved to a position to indicate to persons that mail has been deposited in the box.

I claim:

in a mail box, a base, a body portion pivotally mounted on the base, a closure for the body portion, means for supporting the closure to cause the closure to move to its open position when the body portion moves for- Wardly, an operating bar slidably mounted under the body portion, a latch member mounted on the body portion and controlled by the bar, a vertical bar supported at the rear of the base, said bar adapted to be en gaged by the latch member to normally hold the body portion in its upright position, and said latch member adapted to be released When the bar is moved to swing the body portion downwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto a'tiixe-tl my signature.

HENRY H. SCHUElDER. 

